A review of the crypto industry in 2024

2024 is a turbulent year for the crypto industry. The launch of Bitcoin spot ETFs, the accelerating institutional adoption, the industry boom brought about

2024 was a year of great change for the crypto industry. Many things happened in the crypto market. Changes in the industry structure and fluctuations in market sentiment are shaping the unique industry landscape of this year.

Bitcoin performed particularly well this year, with a price increase of more than 110%, highlighting the unique charm and potential of cryptocurrency as an emerging investment field.

At the beginning of the year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the listing application of the first Bitcoin spot ETF. This milestone decision marked the official entry of crypto assets into the mainstream financial market. Funds poured in like a tide, pushing the price of Bitcoin to a record high in March. The enthusiasm of institutional investors and the high recognition of the market laid a solid foundation for the prosperity of the cryptocurrency market throughout the year.

At the end of April, Bitcoin ushered in the fourth halving event in history, which once again highlighted the unique status of Bitcoin as a scarce asset. Although the market did not continue to strengthen after the halving, but entered a correction period after May, historical data shows that the supply reduction effect brought about by the halving cannot be ignored in the long-term promotion of Bitcoin prices, and has become an important catalyst for market optimism in 2024.

Around the middle of the year, the crypto market began a painful adjustment period. Affected by multiple factors such as global macroeconomic uncertainty, geopolitical conflicts and the German government's sell-off, market volatility intensified, and major market indicators fell sharply from the highs in the first half of the year. Altcoins even fell to the lows of the bear market. The industry faced a difficult period and skepticism arose.

During this period, the listing of Ethereum spot ETF brought a glimmer of hope to the market, but failed to replicate the rise of Bitcoin ETF. Ethereum and its ecosystem, which were highly expected, led the decline. When market sentiment was low, Meme coin emerged with its unique value capture model and community consensus, becoming an emerging track with a market value of over US$100 billion, triggering in-depth discussions on its core value in the industry.

In September, the global financial market ushered in a major turning point. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in four years, forcing major central banks around the world to follow suit and release money, and the world entered a relatively loose monetary policy environment. The interest rate cut cycle is often closely related to the rise in risky asset prices. After a period of downturn, the confidence in the crypto market began to boost. The trading volume and the total supply of stablecoins showed signs of recovery to a certain extent, and the market funds and activity have recovered.

The fourth quarter was a historic moment for the crypto market. During the US election, the topic of cryptocurrency took center stage on the US political stage for the first time. The Trump team’s explicit commitment to promote a more friendly regulatory framework greatly stimulated market sentiment, and the “Trump trade” continued to heat up and continued to ferment after his victory.

Since then, Trump has successively appointed crypto supporters as heads of various departments, such as the Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, Chairman of the SEC, leader of the Department of Government Efficiency, and head of cryptocurrency affairs, and promoted the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Plan in various states, stimulating the price of Bitcoin to rise steadily and break through the $100,000 mark for the first time in history. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have not only achieved a leap in value at the economic level, but have also gained unprecedented recognition and attention at the political and social levels.

On January 20, 2025, the United States will hold the presidential inauguration ceremony, and Trump will officially take office. Compared with the Biden administration, the new administration led by Trump is more friendly to the crypto market. The increasingly open and transparent regulatory environment will provide broad imagination space for the future of the crypto market, and the market is highly concerned and looking forward to it.

1. Promotion of the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Plan

Trump's idea of "US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy focuses in 2025. If Bitcoin obtains strategic reserve status, it will achieve a gorgeous transformation from a niche market asset to a public asset of the treasury, and its legitimacy and recognition will be greatly improved. As a strategic reserve asset, Bitcoin will fight side by side with traditional assets such as gold and foreign exchange reserves to provide protection for national economic stability and financial security.

Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of establishing a national Bitcoin reserve during his campaign, and recently hinted at the creation of a Bitcoin reserve in an interview at the New York Stock Exchange. Whether this ambitious proposal can be implemented in the short term remains to be seen, but it is expected to be actively promoted in 2025. Any remarks by Trump suggesting that this plan is being promoted will bring obvious upward support